[MIXED GAMES] What variants are people playing these days?
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[MIXED GAMES] What variants are people playing these days?

What games are they playing in the mixed games that you participate in?


This is an evolution of the thread the other day about the Aria mix. That game hasn't been going at the Aria during the WSOP, to my knowledge.

I enjoyed playing in the Resorts World 8/16 mix ("Coach's Game") this week. Here is the 18-game lineup we played on one day, except that one is missing from my notes. I've tried to preserve the order as much as possible. Maybe someone can figure out what's missing or chime in on day to day tweaks:

  • 1. Drawmaha (DM) dugi A4
  • 2. SStud regular HL no low qualifier*
  • 3. Archie
  • 4. DM zero
  • 5. Badugi HL (triple draw game, lowest high card, highest low card)
  • 6. Crazy pineapple HL 8
  • 7. SStud HL 8
    ..
    (Around here I may have the order wrong and/or be missing the 18th game.)

  • 8. Drawmaha
  • 9. Badeucy
  • 10. DM high-dugi (four aces nuts for draw half)
  • 11. Badugi
  • 12. Big O 8 (but limit of course)
  • 13. DM 49
  • 14. Badacey
  • 15. Super razzdeucy
  • 16. DM 2-7
  • 17. Triple draw 2-7


As time allows I'll start some general threads on the variations that give me the most trouble or are most novel. My favorites (badeucy, standard TD2-7, etc.) already have at least some literature including HHs here, but we could also consolidate them by thread if desired.

Don't take my focus on the most unfamiliar games to mean I'm negative about the whole mix! I had a lot of fun and really want to understand the ones that make the least sense to me.

I also played a little in the WSOP cash games (Paris) $20-40 mix. It was a narrower mix. There was only the standard Drawmaha but not other drawmahas, iirc, and fewer badugi variants. I didn't take good notes.

*All stud games are "super", 3 hole cards and one up card, discard one on 3rd street.
**All drawmaha games split between Omaha high hand and best designated draw hand.

17 June 2023 at 06:32 PM
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10 Replies



It's that time of the year again. I'll be playing in this game some this weekend and next week. I see it run on PokerAtlas. Any word on what games they're doing? How's Coach doing?


by AKQJ10 k

It's that time of the year again. I'll be playing in this game some this weekend and next week. I see it run on PokerAtlas. Any word on what games they're doing? How's Coach doing?

Same 18 as last year at this time. Nothing has changed. Game runs 6 days/week, not on Sunday.

Game starts at one. Let me know if you want to try to get on the starting list.


by 3for3poker k

Same 18 as last year at this time. Nothing has changed. Game runs 6 days/week, not on Sunday.

Game starts at one. Let me know if you want to try to get on the starting list.

I’ve been trying to get in the last few days and got shut out. I have tournaments planned the next few days, but I’d really love to play on Thursday if possible.


by H.O.R.S.E. k

Anybody else wish mixed-games were just selected from HORSE + NLHE + PLO + 2-7 TD + NL 2-7 + Badugi?

Maybe a few others. But games like Drawmaha Hi-Dugi just feel like tourist scams.

Yes, I feel the same. I am OK playing 10 game mix like in 50K players championship but I have no desire to play all made up games. They are keeping Mixed games unpopular in Las Vegas by not playing regular mixes at low/mid stakes. I played limit/mixed up to 50/100


I disagree about your ideal mix. Adding in big bet games is far more likely to fleece an unsuspecting tourist than a round of Dramaha high dugi. They may be familiar with hold ‘em and even PLO…but single draw deuce?

Additionally the general culture in the mixed games I play is anti big bet.


i can only for sure speak for myself in what my preference would be - which would be all the limit stuff and none of the big bet stuff. are there other chickens out there just like me? i'm sure, and if you asked me to guess i'd say there's more like me than vice versa.

all the same, though, i do think the more exotic the limit games get, the more turned-off some players can get, and i definitely observed this several times in my last stint playing 20/40 at the rio. so i do think there's an argument to keeping rotations more straightforward and concise.


by stumbras k

Yes, I feel the same. I am OK playing 10 game mix like in 50K players championship but I have no desire to play all made up games. They are keeping Mixed games unpopular in Las Vegas by not playing regular mixes at low/mid stakes. I played limit/mixed up to 50/100

Not true at all

Earlier in summer one night they had two 40/80 games going at Bellagio and five 20/40 at Rio. Then IÂ’m sure they had stuff at Resorts World. ItÂ’s more popular than ever.

Meanwhile O/E has sort of declined (not sure how often it went off in Kings Club) and thereÂ’s no O8b game on Strip, have to go to Southpoint or Orleans

Except for Dramaha variants the “made up” games have been around for at least a decade. If a game has been around for a decade and keeps on getting played, it’s because people enjoy playing it and not trying to fleece a tourist. Archie, Badeucey, SuperStud, Razzdeucey, all are starting to get gray hairs. Badugi and 2-7TD can play super senior event.

Seems like debate on this is more or less over. But no one is preventing someone from starting up a Horse list or something. And something like that would be enjoyable, but it might not go, and if it did certainly not five


by ScotchOnDaRocks k

Not true at all

Earlier in summer one night they had two 40/80 games going at Bellagio and five 20/40 at Rio. Then IÂ’m sure they had stuff at Resorts World. ItÂ’s more popular than ever.

Meanwhile O/E has sort of declined (not sure how often it went off in Kings Club) and thereÂ’s no O8b game on Strip, have to go to Southpoint or Orleans

Except for Dramaha variants the “made up” games have been around for at least a decade. If a game has b


Aren't all games 'made up'? There's nothing natural about a poker variant, including Hold'em and Draw Poker.

I regularly play Coach's mix, and like all but one of the games. Of course I like some more than others, but I enjoy the variety. Playing straight O/E might be a nice change once in a while, but I don't see that often.

Resorts World has had an 8/16 game going 6 days per week, and it often goes deep into the night, and even went round the clock at least once that I know of. (BTW, nice Freudian slip about games at the Rio!)


by 3for3poker k

Aren't all games 'made up'? There's nothing natural about a poker variant, including Hold'em and Draw Poker.

I regularly play Coach's mix, and like all but one of the games. Of course I like some more than others, but I enjoy the variety. Playing straight O/E might be a nice change once in a while, but I don't see that often.

Resorts World has had an 8/16 game going 6 days per week, and it often goes deep into the night, and even went roun

Lol yes, they are all made up, that’s why I put it in quotes

But yes I loved the Rio! Amazon room in particular. Believe back in 2012 played in a Triple Draw mix including Badeucey and Badacey. So people have had 12 years to think about those games. No one is trying to set a tourist trap.

But yes it’s very strong, would never have ten TORSE games going or something like that.


If you're a variant lover and always thought it would be cool if there were better hands than a Straight Flush, you might be interested in trying one that my play group came up with. It's called New England Hold'Em (NEHE) and uses all 7 cards, not just 5. That not only makes it harder for two players to chop by adding more kickers, but it also adds new hands like a Long Straight (6-card straight) and a Villa (three of a kind + two pair).

Another interesting thing about it is the betting structure, where being the last to raise makes you first to act in the next betting round. This makes it so that your position at the table at the start of the hand is less important than it is in Texas Hold'Em, and you won't feel so bullied if you start from out of position (or so dominant if you start in position). Betting is slightly nerfed and calling is slightly buffed with these rules.

Let me know if you try it out in your home game / card room and what your experience with it was! Thanks. Here's the link to the public Google doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19cEN...

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